Instructions

ZOOM IN by clicking on the page. A slider will appear, allowing you to adjust your zoom level. Return to the original size by clicking on the page again.

MOVE the page around when zoomed in by dragging it.

ADJUST the zoom using the slider on the top right.

ZOOM OUT by clicking on the zoomed-in page.

SEARCH by entering text in the search field and click on "In This Issue" or "All Issues" to search the current issue or the archive of back issues
respectively.
.

PRINT by clicking on thumbnails to select pages, and then press the
print button.

SHARE this publication and page.

ROTATE PAGE allows you to turn pages 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise.Click on the page to return to the original orientation. To zoom in on a rotated page, return the page to its original orientation, zoom in, and
then rotate it again.

CONTENTS displays a table of sections with thumbnails and descriptions.

ALL PAGES displays thumbnails of every page in the issue. Click on
a page to jump.

NORTHERN OUTLOOK, JUNE 27, 2015 7 EQC UPDATE KEEPING YOU INFORMED | JUNE 2015 Meet the Researchers In this series, Meet the Researchers, we talk to EQC researchers about their important work. Earthquake expert, Dr Mark Quigley, describes the Canterbury series of earthquakes as one of the most significant events in New Zealand’s history. “We tend to forget how hard it really was; living without power, water and sewerage for long periods, constantly having the house shaken to bits, balancing huge workloads and being really stressed. There is no doubt that the earthquakes changed our lives forever.” As a local earthquake scientist and Christchurch resident affected by the quakes, Dr Quigley says he took the opportunity to do the best science he could with his students and colleagues to share the knowledge. Dr Mark Quigley Associate Professor of Active Tectonics and Geomorphology in Geological Sciences at the University of Canterbury, Dr Quigley joins the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne in October 2015, but retains an Adjunct Associate Professorship at the University of Canterbury and his ties to Christchurch. Andrew LePine, Director, and Tim Hopkins, Project Manager, of Beech Construction with homeowner Susie Rivers following the CHRP repair of her home. EQC works with customers to find best way forward With over 98 percent of its 69,000 Canterbury home repairs completed or under way, the Earthquake Commission is working with the final 700 customers who have not yet been able to commit to a managed repair to determine the best way forward for them. EQC chief executive Ian Simpson says many of the repairs yet to complete are more complex than those completed so far. “Because of this complexity, we need to keep talking with these customers to determine the best options for them. “EQC is as committed as ever to completing its work in Canterbury. We do not currently have an end date for the Canterbury Home Repair Programme and will be here for as long as it takes to get the job done,” Mr Simpson says. “However, with the vast majority of repairs now complete, we cannot keep the repair programme running indefinitely.” The Earthquake Commission Act 1993 allows EQC to choose to settle building claims by cash payments or by repairing or replacing earthquake-damaged buildings. “We know that a managed repair is not the best option for some customers, and we know that a simple cash settlement may not work for others. We are keen to work with remaining customers on a case-by-case basis to find the nature of support they need to enable the resolution of their claim,” Mr Simpson says. “We’re actively working with these customers to resolve their claims in a way that best suits their circumstances. To do this, we are working with other agencies and support networks.” Customers in the programme can still choose to opt out up until the point that repair work is underway. Customers uncertain about their claim status can contact EQC by phoning 0800 DAMAGE (0800 326 243) or request an appointment with a member of the Community Contact Team. Hub to stay open Customers’ demand for more time to meet multiple agencies face-to-face has resulted in the Eastgate Shopping Centre In The Know Hub being kept open until 27 August, 2015. Originally, the plan was to close the hub on 25th June, but demand has remained constant from customers to discuss their individual claims with agencies such as the Earthquake Commission (EQC), Christchurch City Council, Earthquake Support Coordinators, Residential Advisory Service, CanCERN and CERA. EQC’s Acting General Manager Customer and Claims, Michael Price, says the number of customers who have been booking appointments with the EQC Customer Contact Team at the hub has averaged around 60 each week. “Most customers have wanted to talk about their EQC claims and it’s increasingly apparent that the majority just want to talk to a person. EQC’s always had a Community Contact Team to meet people face-to-face but the hub means we work alongside community and other agencies, so we supported keeping the Hub open for a longer period. Around 200 people a week are visiting the hub to discuss their individual claims. “EQC is now into the last two percent of its home repair programme, involving the more difficult claims to resolve. We are also in the process of settling land claims for increased flooding and liquefaction vulnerability land damages. With that in mind, we want to make ourselves available to our customers as much as possible.” A world first: settlement of Increased Flooding Vulnerability land damage The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has been settling claims for properties with potential Increased Flooding Vulnerability (IFV) land damage since March. It is the first time in the world that IFV has been recognised as a form of land damage for compensation. This required groundbreaking work and a lot of time to ensure customers could be confident their IFV settlements were soundly based, says EQC Head of Canterbury Land, Keith Land. “Once the High Court confirmed in December 2014 that EQC’s policy is lawful and the appeal period finished earlier this year, we moved to start settling these claims in mid-March,” Mr Land said. By mid-June over 500 customers received their packs. There are currently about 9,000 customers still to hear whether their property qualifies for IFV land damage or not. “We understand customers have waited some time for IFV settlements to begin and we’re working hard to confirm the IFV status for each property as soon as we can. There’s so much complexity involved, we want to make sure the information received is useful and clear.” Customer settlement packs include engineering and, where applicable, valuation assessment summaries, to show how EQC reached its decision about the property. EQC has been working closely with community and support groups to ensure good quality information in the packs. EQC then calls customers when they receive their packs to take them through the material and answer questions. “Customers are encouraged to contact us with any questions. Alternatively they can seek support from groups such as Residential Advisory Service and Canterbury Support Line. Customers can also ask for a review of our decision at any point, even after a payment has been made.” As for properties with potential Increased Liquefaction Vulnerability (ILV) land damage, EQC aims to finalise its policy for settling this type of land damage in the next couple of months. An update of the settlement timeline for ILV will be provided once the policy is established, but it is likely that settlements will continue during 2016. For more information on Increased Flooding Vulnerability, visit the EQC website at www.eqc.govt.nz/IFV Read the full story on Dr Quigley by visiting www.eqc.govt/Canterbury 0800 DAMAGE (0800 326 243)OR VISIT WWW.EQC.GOVT.NZ